Bag dispensing assembly

ABSTRACT

A bag dispensing assembly includes a mounting structure, such as a box with an opening formed therein, an attachment device that attaches the mounting structure to a surface, and a plurality of bags. The bags preferably number in a range of about 5 bags to about 30 bags, and preferably are not attached to or interleaved with each other. Indicia provided on the mounting structure may suggest a preferred orientation of the mounting structure, such as with the opening positioned downward.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to dispensing bags.

Many people spend a comparatively large amount of time in relatively small or confined areas, such as automobiles, workplace cubicles or the like. Most of these people desire to keep these areas clean, organized and free of trash. However, because these spaces are often small and/or odd-shaped, especially in the case of an automobile interior, a conventional garbage can may not be practical as a trash receptacle. Some individuals periodically take a trash bag to the area to collect trash, but this is inconvenient and does not solve the problem of consolidating trash on a continual basis. Other individuals hang a trash bag from an automobile console knob or the like to provide an always-present trash receptacle, but when the bag is full and is discarded, the individuals often forget to take another trash bag to the area. Furthermore, because such confined areas often have extremely limited storage space, the individuals may be reluctant or unable to store replacement bags in the area itself. For example, there may not be room in the glove compartment of an automobile to store extra bags.

SUMMARY

This invention provides a compact bag dispensing assembly that preferably may be conveniently mounted on a mounting surface. Each bag may be folded upon itself one or more times so as to fit within a mounting structure of smaller dimensions than the bag dimensions. A user may periodically take out a bag for trash collection or any other purpose, and still have a supply of bags available for future uses.

These and other objects, advantages and features are described in or are apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a bag dispensing assembly;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the bag dispensing assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the bag dispensing assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a bag in a flattened state; and

FIG. 6 shows a shows a perspective view of a bag in an expanded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

This invention provides a compact bag dispensing assembly that may be conveniently mounted on a surface.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a bag dispensing assembly, including a mounting structure 10 that may, for example, be a box made of thin cardboard, plastic or other suitable material. An opening 12 in the mounting structure allows bags 20 stored in the mounting structure 10 to be removed. The opening 12 may have the shape depicted, or any other suitable shape that allows a user access to the interior of the mounting structure 10 so that the user can grasp and remove a bag 20. The opening 12 may initially be closed by a tear-off portion (not shown), and then opened by separating the tear-off portion from the mounting structure along perforated lines corresponding to the outline of the opening 12.

Not all embodiments necessarily use a box as the mounting structure 10. For example, some embodiments may use a flexible pouch as the mounting structure 10. However, some advantages of using the box as the mounting structure 10, as opposed to a flexible pouch or the like, are that (1) a box can look more neat and attractive, especially when placed in a visible location, and thus contribute to a feeling of better organization; (2) manufacturing of bag dispensing assemblies using boxes can be easier and/or cheaper than using flexible pouches or the like; and (3) a box is less likely to become lost in a purse, handbag or the like, compared to a flexible pouch.

Indicia 18 (in this example, the word “BAGS”) are preferably printed on the mounting structure 10. The orientation of the indicia 18 preferably is such that it directly or indirectly suggests a preferred orientation of the opening 12. In this example, the preferred orientation is with the opening 12 positioned downward. An example of a direct suggestion would be the indicia “THIS END UP,” printed on the end of the mounting structure that is intended to be positioned upward, or the indicia “THIS END DOWN,” printed on the end of the mounting structure that is intended to be positioned downward. An example of an indirect suggestion is the depicted word “BAGS,” because a user will naturally position the mounting structure 10 such that the indicia are readable in a left-to-right manner, resulting in proper positioning of the opening 12 in the downward position even though there are no explicit instructions to place the opening 12 in the downward position. An advantage of placing the opening 12 in the downward position is that dust or the like does not tend to settle into folds of the bags 20, or into the spaces between the bags 20, as could happen if the opening 12 were positioned upward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 12 may include a tab portion 122. The tab portion 122 preferably is formed in a surface of the mounting structure 10 other than the surface in which the majority of the opening 12 is formed, such that the opening 12 spans one edge of the mounting structure 10. In this example, the tab portion 122 is on the bottom surface of the mounting structure 10, and the majority of the opening 12 is formed in the front surface of the mounting structure 10. The tab portion 122 makes it easier to tear off the tear-off portion (not depicted).

As also shown in FIG. 2, sides of the mounting structure 10 may be in the form of fold-in tabs 16 that fold in, and optionally tuck in, in known fashion. End tabs 14 may also be provided, and folded in prior to folding in the fold-in tabs 16. Preferably, the sides of the mounting structure 10 that are formed by the fold-in tabs 16 are sides other than the side including the edge spanned by the opening 12. This reduces weakening of the mounting structure 10, and reduces accidental unfolding of the fold-in tabs 16 when, for example, a bag 20 is pulled out from the opening 12. For extra strength, the fold-in tabs 16 may be taped or bonded in place after folding. The taping or bonding (e.g., gluing) is preferred because, in contrast with boxes that are discarded soon after opening, the mounting structure 10 typically will be in use for an extended period of time after being opened. During this time, the mounting structure may occasionally be inadvertently bumped, brushed against or the like, which may tend to cause the mounting structure 10 to prematurely come apart if it is not strengthened.

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the bag dispensing assembly, and shows an attachment device 19 that can attach the mounting structure 10 to a surface. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 1. The attachment device 19 may, as shown in FIG. 4, include an adhesive layer 192, which may be a single layer or part of an adhesive structure such as double-sided tape or the like. The adhesive of the adhesive layer 192 should be strong enough to securely mount the mounting structure 10 to a mounting surface such as a car dash or the like, but is preferably not so strong that a permanent residue, mark or the like is left when the mounting structure 10 is pulled off of the mounting surface and discarded. As also shown in FIG. 4, the attachment device 19 may also include a release layer 194, such as a waxed paper or plastic sheet or the like, that releasably adheres to the adhesive layer 192 to prevent the adhesive layer from drying before use and/or being contaminated by dirt or the like. The release layer 194 is peeled off and may be discarded prior to attaching the mounting structure 10 to a mounting surface. However, some embodiments may not include the attachment device 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, bags 20 are stacked upon top of each other inside the mounting structure 10. The stack of bags 20 are placed adjacent to each other as shown, but preferably are not attached to each other or to the mounting structure, and preferably are not interleaved with each other. Not being attached to or interleaved with each other allows one bag 20 to be taken out without disturbing other bags 20 within the mounting structure 10. This is particularly an advantage in small spaces such as car interiors, office cubicles or the like, for the following reason. If the bags 20 were interleaved with each other or adhered to each other, pulling out one bag 20 would likely result in the next bag 20 protruding partially from the opening. This is undesirable in small, confined spaces, because it can add to the feeling of clutter in the space.

Preferably, the bags 20 are folded one or more times, and preferably at least two times, so that a bag 20 of a given size may fit within the mounting structure 10 having a smaller outline than a largest outline of the bag 20. Preferably, at least about five bags are contained within the mounting structure 10 in its initial state, e.g., at the time the bag dispensing assembly is sold and/or before the opening 12 has been opened, but no more than about 30 bags are contained within the mounting structure 10. Having fewer than about five bags in the original bag dispensing assembly goes against the purpose of having a convenient supply of bags ready for dispensing, and having more than about 30 bags goes against the purpose of having a small, compact container suitable for placement in confined areas, because the mounting structure 10 may have to be made undesirably large to accommodate more than about 30 bags. Although other numbers of bags are possible, the number of bags in the range of about 5 to about 30 is preferable, such as about 10, about 12, about 15, about 20 or about 25.

The mounting structure 10 may have any desired dimensions, but when the bag dispensing assembly is used in a small area such as an automobile interior, where space is limited, a smaller mounting structure is preferable. Thus, for small-area applications, the mounting structure preferably has a maximum dimension in any given direction of about 6″ or less, and more preferably about 4.5″ or less. One dimension of the mounting structure 10 is preferably about 1.5″ or less, and more preferably about 1″ or less. This dimension of 1.5″ or less is preferably the thickness dimension, or in other words, the dimensional in the vertical direction of FIG. 3. For example, one suitable set of dimensions of the mounting structure 10 is 5″×5″×1″.

The bags 20 may be conventional bags, such as thin-walled plastic bags or the like, and/or may have a structure as described below, or any other desired structure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective views of a bag 20 according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a bag 20 in a flattened state, and FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a bag 20 in an expanded state. Fold lines 22 and 24 are depicted in FIG. 5. The bag 20 may be folded first along fold line 22 and then along fold lines 24, or folded first along fold lines 24 and then along fold line 22, or folded first along one fold line 24, then along fold line 22, then along the other fold line 24. Of course, other folding configurations involving undepicted fold lines are also possible.

The bag 20 may have handles 26, as shown, although handles are not necessary. As shown in FIG. 6, the bag may also have one or more pleats 28, which may be conventional pleats as are known in various plastic bags. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a pleat 28 extends all the way through each handle 26, thereby providing a double layer of material in the handles 26 to increase the strength of the handles 26. The bags may have any desired dimensions, but preferably have a dimension of from about 7″ to about 25″ in one direction and from about 7″ to about 25″ in another direction.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described above, these embodiments are illustrative and not limiting. Various changes, substitutes, improvements or the like may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bag dispensing assembly, comprising: a box comprising a front surface and a back surface, an opening being formed at or near one end of the front surface; a plurality of bags contained in the box; indicia provided on the box, the indicia suggesting a preferred orientation of the opening, the preferred orientation being with the opening positioned downward; and an attachment device that attaches the box to a mounting surface, the attachment device being fastened to the back surface of the box.
 2. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the opening spans an edge of the box.
 3. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 2, the box further comprising one or more fold-in tabs that are folded in to close at least one side of the box, each fold-in tab being provided on a side of the box other than a side that includes the edge spanned by the opening.
 4. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 3, wherein each fold-in tab is taped or bonded to the box after being folded in to close a corresponding side of the box.
 5. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bags are not attached to or interleaved with each other.
 6. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises an adhesive layer.
 7. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box has a dimension in one direction of about 1.5″ or less.
 8. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box has a dimension in one direction of about 1″ or less.
 9. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a largest dimension of the box is about 6″ or less.
 10. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a largest dimension of the bag assembly is about 4.5″ or less.
 11. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein each bag is folded upon itself at least one time.
 12. A bag dispensing assembly, comprising: a plurality of bags arranged in a stack, the bags numbering in a range of about five bags to about 30 bags in an original state of the bag dispensing assembly, the bags not being attached to or interleaved with each other; and a box that holds the stack of bags.
 13. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 12, further comprising an attachment device that attaches the mounting structure to a mounting surface, the attachment device being fastened to a surface of the box.
 14. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 13, wherein the attachment device comprises an adhesive layer.
 15. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bags number in a range of about 10 bags to about 15 bags.
 16. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 12, the bag assembly having a dimension in one direction of about 1.5″ or less.
 17. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein a largest dimension of the bag assembly is about 6″ or less.
 18. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein a largest dimension of the bag assembly is about 4.5″ or less.
 19. The bag dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein each bag is folded upon itself at least one time.
 20. A bag dispensing assembly, comprising: a box comprising a front surface and a back surface, an opening being formed at or near one end of the front surface, the box further comprising one or more fold-in tabs that are folded in to close at least one side of the box, each fold-in tab being provided on a side of the box other than a side that includes an edge spanned by the opening; a plurality of bags contained in the box, the bags numbering in a range of about 5 bags to about 30 bags in an original state of the bag dispensing assembly, the bags not being attached to or interleaved with each other, and each bag being folded upon itself at least one time; indicia provided on the box, the indicia suggesting a preferred orientation of the opening, the preferred orientation being with the opening positioned downward; and an attachment device that attaches the box to a mounting surface, the attachment device being fastened to the back surface of the box. 